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Opinion
Two years into existence, the Golden State Valkyries have reached the WNBA semifinals after a dramatic first-round win that included coach Natalie Nakase collapsing on the sideline. Their reward? The defending champion Aces.
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Two years. That is all it has taken the Golden State Valkyries to go from draft-night novelty act to genuine WNBA semifinalists. If that does not make you sit up, you might want to check your pulse.
Expansion franchises are supposed to lose. They are supposed to be plucky, endearing and ultimately irrelevant for at least three or four seasons while the front office stockpiles picks and the fans learn the roster names. The Valkyries have cheerfully ripped up that script.
Winning a first-round series against Dallas was significant enough on its own. Doing it after head coach Natalie Nakase collapsed on the sideline during the decisive Game 3 turned it into something else entirely - a statement of collective resilience that no amount of pre-season planning could manufacture.
Think about what that group had to process in real time. Your coach goes down. The arena holds its breath. And then, somehow, she is back on her feet, back barking instructions, and the team responds by finishing the job. That is not luck. That is culture, and culture is the single hardest thing to build from scratch.
Let us not be naive, though. Standing between Golden State and a Finals appearance are the Las Vegas Aces - A'ja Wilson, Chelsea Gray, Jackie Young and all the ruthless championship pedigree that comes with them. Wilson dropped 36 points and 10 rebounds to sweep Indiana out of the playoffs just days ago. She is not in the mood for fairy tales.
The Valkyries are underdogs, and rightly so. Their roster lacks a four-time MVP. Their franchise has never played a semifinal minute. The Aces have been here before and won it all before.
But that is precisely what makes this series compelling. Golden State have nothing to lose and, as we saw against Dallas, they have a coach and a locker room that refuse to fold under pressure - even the most extreme kind.
What the Valkyries are doing should matter to anyone who cares about the long-term health of the WNBA. Expansion only works if new markets produce competitive, watchable teams quickly enough to hook a fanbase before the novelty fades. Golden State are delivering on that promise far ahead of schedule.
Will the Aces end the ride? Probably. Wilson at home in a best-of-five is a terrifying proposition for any opponent. But if Nakase's side can take even a game in Las Vegas, they will have confirmed what this opening-round run already hinted at: this franchise is not waiting its turn. It is taking it.
Game 1 tips off today. I would not miss it.
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Copyright 2026 VIASPORT
Eva Hernández, Editor-in-Chief
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